New Zealand women got their Rabobank Hockey World Cup campaign off to the best possible start with a 4-3 victory over their lower-ranked rivals Belgium, but it was not the straightforward victory the Black Sticks seemed to be heading for over their more inexperienced rivals. Meanwhile, fellow Oceania members Australia earned a 3-2 win over Korea. Kelly Jonker's hat trick lifted Netherlands 6-1 over Japan in front of a capacity crowd.
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Kookaburras earn the first victory over Malaysia for the men at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague. Belgium needed a late goal from John-John Dohmen to secure a 3-2 win over India. Meanwhile it was a 1-1 draw for England and Spain.
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South Africa's Pietie Coetzee is the highest goal scorer in women's international hockey, while Luciana Aymar has won the FIH Player of the Year award on a record eight occasions. The two women have now entered the record books again – this time as the only players to grace the pitch the last time the World Cup was a joint occasion back in 1998.
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Miyuki Nakagawa is the captain of Japan, the team that historically has provided upsets and excitement in the big international tournaments. Their most notable performance last year came when they defeated the higher-ranked Korea in the final of the 2013 Asia Cup, a superb result which secured a place at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup for the “Cherry Blossoms”.
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Hot on the heels of yesterday’s preview of the men’s teams, we now switch our attentions to the women’s nations that will challenge for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup title in The Hague. World number 1 and reigning Olympic champions The Netherlands come into the event as favourites, but 11 other world class sides also have their eyes on the prize and know that anything is possible.
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His Majesty King Willem-Alexander was a part of the official welcome, posing for a photo with all of the team captains, while Mayor Jozias van Aartsen of The Hague brought greetings on behalf of the host city.
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Just 1 day to go and we know there is only 1 feeling every team wants to have at the end

Posted 9 months ago.

With just 24 hours until the first match of the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup gets underway, the sense of excitement among players, organisers and spectators is palpable. We meet two players who know just what it feels like to win the coveted trophy.
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With the start of the hugely-anticipated Rabobank Hockey World Cup rapidly approaching, we bring you the first of two team-focused tournament previews ahead of tournament Day 1 in The Hague. Today we take a closer look at all 12 teams that will do battle in what promises to be a truly epic men’s competition. Tomorrow, we will switch our focus to the 12 women’s national sides that will fight for the right to be crowned as the greatest team on earth.
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It has already been a steep climb for the 24 teams that qualified for this year’s Rabobank Hockey World Cup. There will be no easy matches as the world’s best will be immediately thrown into vigorous rounds of pool-play matches. The qualification that follows will be nothing short of brilliant for hockey fans around the world but only two gold teams, one men’s and one women’s, will be able to boast a gold medal around their necks.
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